Portland Public Schools failed to see questionable reference in hiring flap

Randy L. Rasmussen/The OregonianWith students just back in class for fall, Portland Public Schools last week announced it had hired a Florida administrator to a high-level position overseeing its academically troubled alternative schools program. Today officials released records that showed officials had overlooked a questionable reference, and also that the application relied on Milano to volunteer negative information about herself.

In late May, Hurley had also been reassigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and encouraging the overuse of an involuntary psychiatric commitment law to pad crime statistics. The accusations sparked an internal investigation, and the news was covered by multiple Miami media outlets.

Despite that and interviewing Hurley, officials had no idea about investigations involving either of them. Both reassignments were news to human resources executive director Michelle Riddell before The Oregonian raised questions on the hire last week. The Oregonian was able to find the news through a simple Internet search.

The job application materials also show the district largely relies on having Milano and her references volunteer any negative information about her. In her application, Milano never gave them another name she used professionally, Suzy Milano-Berrios, and also answered that she had never been investigated for misconduct in the workplace.

Portland officials have insisted they have a "thorough" vetting process that includes conducting an Internet search on applicants, but still failed to find any coverage on Milano's reassignment.

"We followed our process and protocol, and given what information that was given to us by the applicant and references and the search we did, there were no red flags at the time," Riddell said.

Only one person is required to conduct an Internet search on applicants and call all of the references, even for a high-level job, according to Riddell. In this case, Bonnie Gray, the director of recruitment and workforce diversity, conducted all four reference checks and a cursory Internet search.

"In this case, Bonnie did those reference checks, and I did review them, but there wasn't an additional check," said Riddell.

When the form asks references whether they know anything about the candidate that might cause the district embarrassment or harm, or cause PPS not to hire the candidate, each reference said "no" or "I don't think so." In a similar case, when the district asked references if they knew anyone who might have a different opinion of the candidate, every reference said "no."

The reference check forms all have glowing praise for Milano. Notes on Hurley's form singled out her people skills: "I have seen her interact and wanting to help. She interacted really well with her staff."

They stand in stark contrast to some of the complaints that have been lodged against Milano by employees at Miami-Dade. In documents obtained by The Oregonian, Milano is characterized as aggressive and prone to humiliating her subordinates.

Riddell admitted there is room to improve with the application process. She said she hoped to have background questions be more specific, particularly about investigations. "I think, clearly this is a case where it's very unfortunate, and we will look at, 'How do we not have this happen again?'"